“I Want to be Known as the Athlete Who Glorified God” – Gold Medalist Brianna Rollins

“I Want to be Known as the Athlete Who Glorified God” – Gold Medalist Brianna Rollins

“I Want to be Known as the Athlete Who Glorified God” – Gold Medalist Brianna Rollins
By 維基小霸王 [CC BY-SA 4.0 ], from Wikimedia Commons
U.S. Olympic hurdler Brianna Rollins praises God for her victory.

The 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil proved to be record breaking for the United States of America. This is due to the fact that for the first time since 1972, a country has swept all the medals in the 100 meter hurdles. The team of American hurdlers composed of Brianna Rollins, Nia Ali and Kristi Castlin cleaned the slate and bagged gold, silver and bronze medals respectively. Brianna Rollins also took the opportunity to thank God for the windfall soon after the race.

“I Want to be Known as the Athlete Who Glorified God” – Gold Medalist Brianna Rollins[/tweetthis]

Speaking with NBC journalists after the race had been concluded, Rollins remarked, “I just kept God first and just continued to let Him guide me throughout the rounds. We formed a prayer circle this morning and we just let His presence come upon us.” She continued to comment that they prayed that God “would just help us come out here and continue to glorify Him and do the best that we can and that’s what we did. I’m just so excited; we are blessed. I’m grateful to God.”

Rollins has had a long and illustrious athletics career, all the way from her time running track at Clemson University in Florida. At Clemson University, Rollins distinguished herself from the rest of the pack by becoming a three time National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) champion, once in 2011 for the 60 meters hurdles and twice in 2013 for the 60 meters and 100 meters hurdles.

Her professional career began after the 2013 NCAA Outdoor championships, in which she broke the old NCAA record in the 100 meters hurdles with a time of 12.39 seconds. Thereafter, she was able to win the World Championships in 2013 in Moscow, Russia in the 100 meters hurdles with a time of 12.44 seconds. Her latest win in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio with a time of 12.48 second will only add to her list of accomplishments.

Rollins commitment to her religion has been expressed many times before on social media. For instance, her Twitter profile picture has a telling quote, “I want to break world records and win gold medals, but I also want to be known as the athlete who glorified God by reaching my full potential.”

With a Twitter bio that remarks “Glorifying God through the talent He blessed me with! Professional Hurdler… God is Love,” her giving credit to God after her win and her teammates’ wins in the 100 meter hurdles is only another page from the same book that she has been reading from throughout her athletic career.

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